Hannah Cecil Gurney is not one to shy away from colour. She grew up in a house opposite Kensington Gardens decorated by her father, Claud Cecil Gurney, who founded de Gournay – renowned for luxury handcrafted wallpapers – 30 years ago.

Her South Kensington home interiors are an expression of her passion for colour, and her devotion to her family business.

The hallway’s wallpaper depicts early views of India. Traditional artefacts such as the Burma chest complement the theme of a bygone era, while leather and brass lamps from Collier Webb inject a contemporary element.

The de Gournay St. Laurent Chinoiserie wallpaper features a colourful oriental garden scene. Its design was inspired by a set of antique panels in the Paris apartment of Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Berge.

As the business development director of de Gournay, Hannah uses her two-bedroom flat on the ground floor of a Georgian townhouse that she shares with her husband and dogs, to showcase her love of colour.

It took the couple six months to find the perfect property with an ideal location, lots of natural light, traditional architecture and enough space for entertaining. “I wanted the interior to be youthful, eclectic and surprising, but also homely, comfortable and warm.

I wanted each room to be different, so that I could play around with different styles and colours,” she shares.

The couple enjoy having drinks with friends in their large, high-ceilinged living room, with walls covered in de Gournay St. Laurent Chinoiserie wallpaper.

“I love to combine the contemporary with the traditional. The modern pieces I own provide a nice contrast to the antiques, and keep the interior feeling fresh,” Hannah says.

The fluid movement of the fish and the pearlescent antiquing bring to mind images of a shimmering lake, creating an evocative mise-en-scene in the bathroom.

The Fishes design is one of the most recognisable patterns from de Gournay’s Japanese and Korean collection, referencing artworks from Japan’s Edo period.

The hand-painted Badminton Chinoiserie wallpaper on a custom Rose Antique sterling silver gilded background in the master bedroom is Hannah’s favourite. The warmth of the rose antique finish on the silver leaf exudes a rich, cosy feeling.

The Badminton Chinoiserie wallpaper’s design mimics the effect of natural silver tarnishing. This was developed when a client left silver wallpaper uninstalled for years in humid conditions, resulting in a naturally degraded, yet unique print.

Hannah Cecil Gurney is not one to shy away from colour. She grew up in a house opposite Kensington Gardens decorated by her father, Claud Cecil Gurney, who founded de Gournay – renowned for luxury handcrafted wallpapers – 30 years ago.

Her South Kensington home interiors are an expression of her passion for colour, and her devotion to her family business.

The hallway’s wallpaper depicts early views of India. Traditional artefacts such as the Burma chest complement the theme of a bygone era, while leather and brass lamps from Collier Webb inject a contemporary element.